somewhat belatedly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "somewhat belatedly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or response that occurs later than expected or desired. Example: "I apologize somewhat belatedly for not responding to your email sooner."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

The Financial Services Agency somewhat belatedly plugged the loophole.

The Economist

For Mr. Talley, the honor comes somewhat belatedly.

The New York Times - Style

He proclaimed -- somewhat belatedly -- May as Pet Adoption Month.

The New York Times

Somewhat belatedly that situation is now being remedied.

The New York Times - Arts

Somewhat belatedly, she directed him to fix the power crisis and ensure all-day electricity.

The Guardian

Reality set in somewhat belatedly over the course of the year that Henry attended these sessions.

The New York Times - Books

Finally, if somewhat belatedly, the light bulb clicked on: this vow of silence made no sense.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

And even other countries that have fared better have huge concerns over high unemployment, high taxes, ageing populations and deteriorating public services.What is vital is that Europe's leaders—especially Germany's Mr Schröder do not respond to the voters' battering by slowing down or stopping the economic reforms that they have, somewhat grudgingly and belatedly, begun to undertake.

The Economist

Somewhat encouragingly, if belatedly, lots of other folks seem finally to be noticing and not a moment too soon.

Huffington Post

On the second, even France and Italy are, belatedly and somewhat reluctantly, following the euro zone's periphery in making structural reforms that should, eventually, boost growth.

The Economist

Freud discovered, belatedly and somewhat to his chagrin, that hysteria is a real disease all right, but that it survives by pretending to be a different disease.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ "somewhat belatedly" when you want to soften the impact of a delay, making the situation seem less critical or urgent.

Common error

Avoid using "somewhat belatedly" in very informal or casual conversations. Simpler phrases like "a bit late" or "a little late" are often more appropriate and natural.

Linguistic Context

Adverbial Phrase: "Somewhat belatedly" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb, adjective, or another adverb to indicate the timing of an action. As shown in Ludwig, it describes how or when something occurs, emphasizing it happens later than expected.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Wiki

4%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "somewhat belatedly" functions as an adverbial phrase used to describe actions that happen later than expected, often softening the impact of the delay. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While it’s generally suitable for neutral to formal settings, simpler alternatives like "a bit late" may be more appropriate for casual conversations. As confirmed by Ludwig, this makes it a versatile choice for expressing delays with a touch of formality and nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat tardily

A more formal synonym, maintaining the adverbial nature and implying a slight delay.

a bit late

More informal and direct; emphasizes the lateness without adding formality.

a little late

Similar to "a bit late" but softens the lateness slightly.

slightly delayed

Focuses on the delay aspect, suitable when referring to actions or events.

belatedly

Removes the "somewhat", emphasizing a stronger sense of lateness.

somewhat behind schedule

Emphasizes being behind the expected timeline, useful in project management contexts.

somewhat later

A simpler way to express the action occurred at a later time, maintaining the slight degree of delay.

after a delay

Highlights the presence of a delay before the action.

with some delay

Similar to "after a delay", indicating that the action occurred following a period of delay.

somewhat subsequently

Indicates a later sequence in time, suitable when describing events following one another.

FAQs

How can I use "somewhat belatedly" in a sentence?

You can use "somewhat belatedly" to indicate that something is happening or being realized later than expected. For instance, "Somewhat belatedly, the company recognized the need for better security measures."

What are some alternatives to "somewhat belatedly"?

Alternatives include "a bit late", "somewhat tardily", or "slightly delayed", depending on the context.

Is "somewhat belatedly" formal or informal?

"Somewhat belatedly" is considered relatively formal. In very casual settings, simpler phrases like "a little late" might be more suitable.

What is the difference between "belatedly" and "somewhat belatedly"?

"Belatedly" implies a more significant delay, while "somewhat belatedly" softens the impact, suggesting the delay was not too severe or critical.